The Courier asks a few of the questions you need answered to cast your vote Nov. 4Editor's note: On Nov. 4, voters will choose from seven candidates vying for the two-year positisions of District 68 and 70 representative to the state House of Representatives.

Along with the state Senate, the 100-member House of Representatives forms the state's General Assembly, which will re-convene in January 2009.

In District 68, which encompasses the Russellville and Pottsville areas of Pope County, Democrat Thomas Akin faces off against Green Party candidate Mary Boley and Republican Andrea Lea, while in District 70, comprised of the northeastern portions of Pope County - including Dover and Hector - as well as portions of Van Buren County, Democrat J. Patrick Bewley is running against Republican Robert Dale and Independents Jeff Hall and Marjorie LeClair.

District 68

Q: Name one specific manner in which you will use your position as a state legislator to help the citizens of the Arkansas River Valley, if elected.

Akin: "As your state representative, I'll work hard to grow our economy. I believe that one of the best ways to encourage investment here is to reduce taxes and hold down government spending. I don't spend money I don't have at home, and I won't spend money we don't have at the state capitol. I have hands-on experience building in growing a small business from the ground up, and I will use that experience to help create job opportunities for people living in our community. The key to our community's future is the ability to foster growth and attract new generations to live and work here in Pope County."

Boley: "As a legislator, I will look at creative ways to meet the demands of the public. Times of crisis often require ingenuity. The Arkansas legislature needs ingenuity now, and the people of this district will be best served by progressive legislation that ensures access to high quality state services. As a Green Party candidate, I bring fresh perspectives and emphasize the role of the citizen as crucial in constructing innovative and effective legislation. I'd love to hear from you at MaryBoley4StateRep@gmail.com"

Lea: "I will use my position to help bring high-paying jobs into this community. In order to accomplish this, I will work with local and state economic development officials. Depending upon the project, that will mean working with Congressman Boozman, Gov. Beebe and Sen. Trusty, who serves on the Economic Development Foundation. I am honored my campaign has Sen. Trusty's endorsement."

Q: Do you support the complete elimination of the state's food tax, which Gov. Beebe previously reduced? Why or why not?

Akin: "I know that times are tough and that any savings to the family budget can help. The government in Little Rock can make ends meet without the grocery tax, and that's why I will vote to end it. The grocery tax was a bad idea from the start. It's a predatory tax that hurts Arkansas families and burdens your family's budget. It's not right, it's not fair and it must end."

Boley: "Yes. Funding our state's budget should not be the responsibility of the poor and working class. As a Green Party candidate, I advocate fair taxes and, therefore, the elimination of the remaining 1.5 percent state tax on groceries. Eliminating taxes on both food and medicine and replacing them with other sources of revenue is a step towards ensuring that all Arkansas citizens share the wealth. Inheritance taxes on large estates, new upper income tax brackets and severance taxes would provide sources of revenue that would shift the majority of the funding burden from the poor to the wealthy."

Lea: "Yes. I will also work to eliminate the used car tax, cut state income tax, and any other tax relief that will help working families and grow our economy."

Q: Where do you stand on the question of a state lottery, which voters will approve or deny Nov. 4?

Akin: "I oppose the lottery because I believe it is a regressive tax that will hurt lower- and middle-class families. The people that least need to spend money on the lottery end up buying tickets. The funds raised will not go back to those Arkansans, but instead will be used for scholarships for those who can already afford to attend college. Lotteries are like grocery taxes; they take money away from hard-working Arkansans and send it to the government. This proposed amendment could lead to casino gambling, multiple lotteries, and hurt lower and middle Arkansans. I will work to cut taxes and protect Arkansas families."

Boley: "Let the people decide! Arkansas is one of only eight states without a lottery. Does that make the other 42 states immoral, or does that make Arkansas self-righteous? All moral debates aside, our budget shortfall and the state's ability to provide higher education funding for our population must be addressed. I back the lottery because of the valuable revenue to be gained for economic and educational growth in our state. If the state lottery measure fails, I am willing to support legislation that will offer novel ways to raise money."

Lea: "As a social and fiscal conservative, I am personally against it. If the voters approve it, I will work to ensure it is administered efficiently and ethically. I will also work to limit it to its intended purpose. A concern of many experts is that it will open the door to casinos, as has happened in other states."

District 70

Q: Name one specific manner in which you will use your position as a state legislator to help the citizens of the Arkansas River Valley, if elected.

Bewley: "Improve education and economy. My grandfather, Jack Bewley of Hector, dropped out of the eighth grade during the Depression to help feed his younger brother and sister. 'Patrick,' he would say, back turned to me while gazing out the window toward the mountain sunrise, 'Once you get your education, they can never take that away from you.'

Inspired by my grandfather's faith in the benefits of a good education, I attended Hector High School, like my grandmother and father before me. After high school, I studied physics at Arkansas Tech and graduated from Harvard Business School in Boston.

Education creates the climate for economic development that brings jobs to our district. Those jobs make it possible for our children and grandchildren to always call this home."

Dale: "I have spent my entire life serving and volunteering in the community in which I chose to raise my family. My many years of experience serving in my community through the local school board, Tri County Water Board, Pope County Fair Board, Pope County Ambulance Board - just to mention a few - is evidence of my sincere desire to serve people. I want to continue this service to my constituents in District 70 and I genuinely believe that I can be their voice in the state legislature. The only way I can be their voice is for us to have an active communication. The one specific manner in which I will use the position of state legislature is to be available, listen and represent my constituents on their issues."

Hall: "Constituent service. As an attorney, I have spent years helping folks get through the paperwork and bureaucracy necessary to resolve their difficulties or just to get their voice heard. It is imperative that our representative knows where to turn for answers, assistance and authority at all levels of our state and federal government, as well as private enterprise. Also, working every day with the results of good, bad and/or incomplete law, I know how important it is to have a working knowledge of our state's legal code, how it effects us as individuals, families and businesses, and how to thoroughly research, write and build a consensus in forging law designed to benefit all of us at the local level. Having someone with a working knowledge of public policy and its effects on real people with real problems can greatly influence the impact of legislation and direction of our state's future."

LeClair: "I will try to get the tax off food and medicine. It was supposed to happen two years ago. I will try to get a week sales-tax free on children's clothes and school supplies before school starts. I will read budgets closely and ask for specifics on expenditures. The maintenance department of some agencies are paying $9 for the energy-saving light bulbs. When I asked why, I was told they had a contract that had to be honored. I will try to get a state sponsored catastrophic health insurance plan which people can buy into at a nominal fee. Non-working people may be legible for Medicaid, but the working poor are not. Small businesses can't afford to offer health insurance and stay in business so this would help both small business and the individual."

Q: Do you support the complete elimination of the state's food tax, which Gov. Beebe previously reduced? Why or why not?

Bewley: "I do support the further reduction and possible elimination of the state's food tax. A reduction in this tax will help offset the rising food costs for Arkansas families."

Dale: "Gov. Beebe has stated that Arkansas has a surplus of revenue. Instead of starting more programs, I support helping everyone by eliminating the state's food tax in its entirety."

Hall: "Yes, I'm in favor of eliminating the grocery tax. In 2007, the tax rate was cut from 6 cents to 3 cents on the dollar. At that time, studies showed that the elimination of 3 cents would reduce state revenues by $252 million over two years, but that the typical Arkansas family would save $234 annually on its grocery bills. Though revenue forecasts and budget demands are subject to change, when you consider the current economic distress and rise in consumer prices, relief for our most essential commodities should be high on our list constituent concerns."

LeClair: "Absolutely. Arkansans' tax burden- to-income is one of the highest in the nation, but I don't see us having any more services than other states. This, at a glance, looks like bad management."

Q: Where do you stand on the question of a state lottery, which voters will approve or deny Nov. 4?

Bewley: "I believe that the lottery can be an excellent source of revenues to fund critical programs. The lottery will generate revenues that would otherwise have to come from taxable sources. The key, however, is proper management of the additional funds. This is something I will work for."

Dale: "I will not support the state lottery because I do not believe we should finance state educational programs with proceeds gained from a game of chance."

Hall: "The initiative and referendum process of our state constitution allows for a direct vote of the people on current and pressing issues. So long as the proposals are well-written, articulated and advocated, it is an opportunity for every voting citizen to express their will and to shape their communities. Personally, I will be voting 'no' on amending the constitution to allow some form of "lottery" to be administered by the state of Arkansas. A review of the arguments for and against this open-ended form of obtaining and disbursing revenue between the state and its citizens is disadvantageous to citizens on an economic, social and civic level. I believe the costs far outweigh the benefit, if any."

LeClair: "Yes, I support the lottery. Humanity has developed many vices: gambling, alcohol use, drug use, addiction to junk food, spending more than is earned, and on and on. We all know this is harmful to the individual and to society. Historic evidence shows that banning a vice does not do away with the vice. Those who enjoy the lottery will buy tickets somewhere. I was working in New Mexico when they voted in a lottery. Those I talked to thought it helped economically disadvantaged people get education or training. I have asked the lieutenant governor, who sponsored the bill, to include trade schools and training schools such as hospital nursing programs in this program should the voters decide to have a lottery. Skilled craftspeople are getting in short supply."